Dear Siouxsie, Thomas and Dahlia:
My mama found your wonderful website recently and told me all about it. Imagine, three Wise Cats giving all us kitties insight to our problems! And, boy have I got a problem! You see, I just can't make myself stop chewing on Mama's broom. I don't eat it I just like to chew it until it makes all those lovely frayed edges! Mama gets so upset with me and says her broom doesn't sweep well now. And now she's gotten a house plant that has straw on top of the dirt. Mama says this helps the water stay in. As you can probably guess, I just love to chew on the plant straw, too!

If it helps you help me, I am 5 years old and what Mama calls "the runt of my litter." I'm very small for a kitty. I look a lot like Dahlia except I have golden eyes like Siouxsie. My kitty mama had me and my siblings in a paint shop. Kitty Mama took all my siblings into the paint shop wall but just left me all alone on the paint shop floor. My Nana (that's Mama's sister) worked at the paint shop and took me home until my Mama and Daddy came and gave me a forever home. I love my forever home and my Mama and Daddy!

Oh please, Wise Cats, tell me why I love to chew straw and make Mama give The Face. I don't like The Face, even if Mama does give me lots of lovely petties when she sees my Sad Face. Hee Hee!

Lots of purrs and head bonks from the Lone Star State,
~Misa

Siouxsie: Well, Misa, you will be glad to know that chewing issues are not at all uncommon in cats. We're glad to hear you're not eating the straw, but just chewing on it. That will make it easier for you to get out of that bad habit.

Thomas: Chewing is more common in cats that were abandoned or weaned too early. And some breeds are more inclined to chew on blankets or straw than others. Siamese are know for wool sucking, for example.

Dahlia: Wool sucking? Eeew!

Siouxsie: What are you 'eeew'-ing for? You like to eat dirty tissues! Talk about eeeeeew! Even Mama thinks that's gross!

Dahlia: You're just a big old meanie, Siouxsie. I'm telling!

Siouxsie: Go ahead, tell! Mama knows it's true: Eating tissues is gross.

Thomas: Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Misa, some cat experts think that cats chew on things like straw or wool because they crave fiber -- or just something of a firmer texture than the food they're currently eating.

Dahlia: So if your mama is feeding you only canned food, she could try giving you dry kibble or chewy treats for cats.

Siouxsie: Your mama definitely should not give you chewy treats for dogs, though! Rawhide chews, dried pig ears and other treats made for dogs can be harmful to cats because they could block up your digestive system if you ended up eating them!

Thomas: But there are some great toys made for cats that help us deal with chewing behavior. There's a company called PetStages that makes toys for all sorts of different play needs we cats have, including chewing.

Dahlia: One of my favorite toys is designed by PetStages, and I can chew it and bat it around to my heart's content. PetStages toys are available at many pet stores

Siouxsie: Pawbreakers could help you stop chewing on your mama's broom. Pawbreakers are big hard ball-shaped treats made of catnip. I actually asked Santa Paws if he'd bring me some Pawbreakers for Christmouse this year!

Thomas: Pawbreakers are available at pet stores and online at www.pawbreakers.com.

Dahlia: Yummy! Pawbreakers! Mommy, can I have a Pawbreaker too?

Siouxsie: Your mama could also make you a cat grass garden. Cat grass kits are available at pet stores, or you can buy wheat grass seeds and other cat-friendly plants (like catnip) at your local gardening store and put them in a planter for you.

Thomas: When we lived indoors only, Mama made us a big cat grass garden in a heavy planter so we could chew on the grass and get into the planter without knocking it over.

Dahlia: Cat grass can give you some extra fiber, and you'll probably find that fresh green plants are a lot more tasty than dry old straw.

Siouxsie: Misa, you don't mention if you've always been a straw chewer. If this is something you've done since you were a kitten, it's probably a behavior thing. But if straw chewing is something relatively new to you, your mama should mention it to your vet.

Thomas: That's right. If you've suddenly picked up a chewing habit, it might be because there's something bothering you in your mouth and the chewing might be a relief in some way. If you've got too much tartar buildup on your teeth, for example, you could be chewing on the straw to try and fix that problem.

Dahlia: If you get a clean bill of health at the vet and other chewable toys don't do anything for you, maybe your mama can get you a broom all your own to chew on!

Siouxsie: If your mama puts her good broom in the closet and leaves you a little whisk broom all your own to chew on, she might be able to make you happy and still be able to sweep well.

Thomas: She could also try spraying her good broom with something that has a smell you don't like -- lemon juice or bitter apple, for example. But if she does this, she should definitely give you another item of similar texture. Otherwise, you might end up chewing on something that makes her even less happy, like her good rug or a sweater!

Dahlia: If you think your mama gives you The Face when you chew her broom, just imagine what kind of face she'd give you if you ate a hole in her favorite blanket!

Siouxsie: So, Misa, your straw chewing could be due to your early abandonment. Or it could be because your mouth is bothering you. But there are things your mama can do to help you.

Thomas: It's not so terrible to chew straw, as long as you don't eat it. We hope that we've been able to give you and your mama some suggestions about how to take care of your habit.

Dahlia: Please let us know how things turn out, Misa. We'd love to hear if you find a newer and better thing to chew on.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.